Katy Perry, Julia Gagnon, Kelly Clarkson.
Monica Schipper/Getty Images; Disney/Eric McCandless; Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for AudacyJulie Gagnon‘s powerful performance American idol had Katy Perry a tribute to the series’ original champion.
After a top 10 performance by Bryan Adams“Here I am,” Gagnon, 21, received a standing ovation from Judge Perry, 39, Luke Bryan And Lionel Richie.
“I love when you’re super intimate because you can wear belts all day long,” Perry told Gagnon. “So give me these intimate things even more. And then I thought it was you too Kelly Clarkson in one place. It’s like, ‘Is Kelly on stage?’ I don’t know what’s happening.'”
Gagnon was taken aback by the compliment, showing a stunned face and saying, “Wow, oh my God.”
Although River seems like an unusual baby name, it has become very popular in Hollywood. When Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara welcomed their first child in September 2020, the couple decided to name their son River to honor the Oscar winner’s late brother, River Phoenix, who died in 1993 at the age of 23 Drug died […]
Of course, Clarkson, 42, was the first ever American idol He became a winner back in September 2002, winning three Grammy Awards as well as four No. 1 albums and three No. 1 songs on the Billboard Hot 100.
After Gagnon’s performance, Bryan, 47, praised her for getting in the mood for the performance and showing a new side of her personality.
“When you first started here, you gave me one look,” Bryan said. “I think, ‘She’s a far cry from the girl we knew in Maine.’ This is how you can make your moment your own. Well done.”
Richie, 74, was similarly impressed, highlighting the different textures of Gagnon’s vocal abilities.
“Way to build it, way to build it,” he said. “Take us low, take it all the way up. Show your beautiful voice and your high level. It was fantastic.”
Before the performance, Gagnon worked with a mentor Shania Twain – who had a special connection to Gagnon’s choice of song.
“Bryan Adams is my fellow Canadian and a good friend of mine,” Twain, 58, told Gagnon. “I can’t wait to share this with him. He’ll be really excited that you picked his song.”
American Idol paved the way for reality competition shows to help everyday people achieve their dreams of music stardom. The series premiered on Fox in 2002 with a star-studded panel of judges including Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson. The first season of American Idol introduced Kelly Clarkson, who would become the show’s first star. […]
Gagnon explained that she chose to perform “Here I Am,” which Adams released in 2002, because she had “such an emotional connection to it.”
“The first time I heard this song, I was only four years old,” Gagnon, who was adopted, said in a video package. “I remember seeing the movie it was from, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. It’s an animated film about the feeling of not belonging and being different from the people around you. When it started, I started sobbing.”
Gagnon has earned a spot American idolis in the top 8 on Sunday and will try to crack the top 6 idol will air again on ABC on Monday, April 29 at 8 p.m. ET.